With Valentines Day only a week away, we thought we’d share some of our favourite locally designed Valentines Day cards. There’s something for everyone; from pretty, girly and glittery – to cute, colourful and hand-stamped – to quirk, sweet and sassy. Whether it’s for your best friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, secret crush, granny… spread the love.
We meant to share this video from Pyrrha before Christmas, unfortunately we got swept up in the season and didn’t get the chance. Luckily it’s still just as awesome to watch in February.
The video shows the process they use to hand-craft their stunning pieces. Take a look…
All the Pyrrha necklaces are individually created in Pyrrha’s Vancouver studio with reclaimed silver and cast from 19th century wax seals.
Below are some of the latest wax seal necklaces Pyrrha has released (and are now available in our lovely shops) we love all the new meanings! Although all the necklaces are beautiful, it’s the touching and heartfelt meanings behind the seals that really make them special. It’s also what makes them such a wonderful Valentine’s Day gift for a loved one (hear that boys? 
)
Which one is your favourite?
'Determination' and 'Eternal Love'
This Latin seal reads ‘Quod Vult Valde Vult:’ What He Wishes He Wishes Fervently. The reindeer is symbolic of persistence and resoluteness.
This French seal reads ‘Jamais Arriere:’ Never Behind. The heart with wings is symbolic of love that is eternal.
Horseshoe
Horses are considered sacred. Horseshoes are often hung over the outside thresholds of houses and barns to protect and bring good luck.
Pathfinder
The Celts believed that the fox was a guide. While running, the fox’s entire body is pointed like an arrow: straight and tightly aimed. This is symbolic message for us to set a determined mindset in order to achieve our desires.
Lumine Luce
This banner reads ‘Lumine Luce’ which means ‘Shine in the Light’ in Latin.
Well Being
While in the shape of a horizontal number eight, the symbol for infinity, the snake represents enduring health.
New Beginnings
The crescent moon symbolizes new beginnings and the making of dreams into reality.
Freedom
The butterfly is strongly associated with freedom of the soul. It symbolizes rebirth and a lightness of heart.
ECOuture pyrite n' chains bracelet
We always seem to blog about the new designers to our shops, but it’s always nice to show some love to our favourite designers that we’ve been fortunate enough to carry for a substantial length of time as well. So without further ado here is a little bit more about the fabulous TOODLEBUNNY Designs…
Toodlebunny Designs is a unique handcrafted collection of jewellery by Vancouver based jewellery designer Trudy Wynans. Featuring 14k gold fill and sterling silver, her asymmetrical designs embody natural elements of bone, wood, horn and semiprecious stones. She draws her inspiration from nature’s flora and fauna, evidenced by the use of birds, leaves and tusks that have become signatures of her designs. We have carried Toodlebunny for a quite a while now… it’s been almost six years I think (my how time flies!) since Eva came across Trudy selling her jewelry at a craft show just down the street at Heritage Hall. It’s been great to see how the line has evolved over time and how Trudy has developed as a designer.
Here are some of the latest Toodlebunny pieces we’ve received, including two pieces from the new one-of-a-kind ECOuture line. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
ECOuture 'Golden Sergeant" Earrings
Buddha Mala Tassel Bracelet
Moroccan Sun Earrings
Quartz Point & Leather Necklace
Pearl Bird Nest Necklace
Antiqued Feathers and Pyrite Earrings
Skull Mala Tassel Bracelet
Fallen Angel Earrings
Created by local (until her recent transplant to London) event coordinator Andrea Tong (of Lotus Events), ‘roxypop’ is an adorable line of hand-made accessories guaranteed to make you smile. With bright, happy colours, super cute fabric prints and a dash of quirkiness – anything from roxypop is perfect for those who enjoy a bit of fun and frivolity in their lives.
We were very excited to receive our latest shipment of roxypop in the mail recently a) because it made it to us through the postal strike and b) because when we opened the box it was filled with bunches and bunches of fun new hair ties, barrettes, bobby pins and apple cozies (yes, apple cozies – how cute is that!?) yay!
Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of some of the cuteness that is in store…
apple cozies - $10 each
Hair clips - $5 each
Sailor hair ties - $5
Hedgehog hair ties - $5
Apples hair ties - $5
gingham bobby pins - $5 per pair
cute colourful dahlia earrings - $10
little rose earrings - $10
It seems to be the summer of fabulous new jewelry designers at Barefoot Contessa – there are so many great designers coming in to the stores right now it’s hard to keep up! So far we have introduced you to type B and social experiment, and we are now excited to showcase one of the newest jewelry designers to the store, AstridLily!
A Los Angeles favourite, AstridLily is a free-spirited and whimsical, yet elegant, line of jewelry hand-crafted by Vancouver designer Tara Nish. We actually discovered AstridLily and it’s lovely creator this past May during our stint the Got Craft? show, and knew immediately that it would be a perfect fit for Barefoot Contessa. Each piece uses only the finest metals, precious and semi-precious gemstones, and every stone is individually hand-wrapped with wire. It’s difficult to express just how gorgeous and unique each piece is with words alone, so please take a look at all the pictures below to get a better idea about why we love AstridLily so much…
Startripper Necklace ($275) Mystic Pink Topaz, Smokey Quartz and Moss Aquamarine are individually wrapped in 14kt gold wire with delicate strands of sterling silver and 14kt gold fill chain dangle playfully.
'If I Had You' earrings ($149) - AAA Blue Sapphire, London Blue Topaz, Moss Aquamarine, Pink Topaz and pale yellow Chalcedony gemstones individually wrapped in 14kt gold fill wire, with other 14kt gold fill components.
'French Girl in LA' ($139) - vibrant Orange Garnet and Pink African Ruby rondelles, marquis cut Pink Mystic Topaz gemstones, and Pink Amythyst briolettes are combined wih 14kt gold fill wire.
'We Used to Wait' ($169) - layers and layers of the most beautiful precious and semi-precious stones in delicious shades of pink. Rose Quartz, Pink Sapphire, Mystic Pink Topaz, Ivory Moonstone and Pink Tourmaline mingle amidst 14kt gold chain.
'Nice Dream' earrings ($79) African Pink Rubies cascade down circles of 14kt gold vermeil chain.
'We Will Become Silhouettes' necklace ($139) - 14kt gold fill hand-wrapped around exquisite Moss Aquamarine briolettes with a 24kt gold vermeil chain.
'Stadium Love' earrings ($129) - Mystic Blue Topaz gemstones are hand-wrapped with 14kt gold fill wire to create these beautiful flowers. Each flower has a genuine 24kt gold vermeil nugget in it's center.
'1999' earrings ($69) - brushed gold orchids dangle with delicate strands of gold-filled chain and Moss Aquamarine briolettes.
'My Bloody Valentine' necklace ($149) - dozens of soft Mystic Blue Topaz rondelles indivudually hand-wrapped on a 14kt gold fill chain.
